Piler mechanism for metal sheets



June 14, 1966 D. BUCCICONE 3,256,011

PILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS Filed June 16, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR gY DARIO BUCCICONE fi/zmgvckwadflwmwfiwog m was. "4

June 14, 1966 D. BUCCICONE FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1964 H INVENTOR m DARIO BUCCICONE r l l l l l llllllll |||l|..

June 14, 1966 D. BUCCICONE 3,256,011

PILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS Filed June 16, 1964 7 SheetsSheet 5 \l/ 95 INVENTOR DARIO BUCCICONE June 14, 1966 BUCCICONE 3,256,011

' FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS Filed June 16, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN ENTOR DARIO BUCCICONE June 14, 1966 BUCCICONE FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 16, 1964 INVENTOIQ DARIO BUCCICONE v u ,fl/zemawaflifiwwg June 14, 1966 D. BUCCICONE FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 16, 1964 INVENTOR. DAQIO BUCCICONE United States Patent 3,256,011 PILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS Dario Buccicone, Gary, Ind., assignor to Bucciconi Engineering Co., Inc., Gary, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed June 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,503 19 Claims. (Cl. 271-68) This invention relates to mechanisms for piling metal sheets and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a mechanism for receiving corrugated metal sheets from a processing line and depositing them on a pile.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a sheet piler machine which is especially designed for use in a processing line in which corrugated sheets are formed and sheared or out directly from a coil of steel, the machine being adapted to stack sheets up to a predetermined length, to allow sheets over a predetermined length to pass clear through the machine and to have associated with it a mechanism for rejecting defective sheets before they reach the piler.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a piler mechanism for metal sheets which employs overhead conveyors of rail-like form having traveling belts and electromagnets for holding the sheets-against the bottom surface of the belts and also having side guide and end stop devices which are especially adapted for handling corrugated sheet material.

It is another object of the invention to provide a piler for metal sheets which employs overhead magnetic conveyors mounted on spaced end frames and having improved side guide mechanisms which are adjustable longitudinally and transversely of the piler so as to adjust the same for sheets which are of different width and length.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in a sheet piler which employs overhead magnetic conveyors mounted on spaced end frames and side guide units which are adjustable longitudinally of the piler and which are also independently adjustable laterally of the piler so as to permit the guide units to be properly positioned for piling sheets which are not on center line as they are fed to the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sheet piler employing overhead magnetic conveyors mounted on spaced 'end'frames and pairs of side guide mechanisms which are independently adjustable along the sides of the piler, with the guides of each pair thereof being independently adjustable laterally of the piler, so as to handle sheets of different size and sheets which are fed in difierent lines, each side guide unit having a sheet tensioning finger unit which is fastened to the lower end of a supporting linkage so as to enable the finger units to swing outwardly when lateral force is applied thereto and there- ,by avoid damage to the same.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a piler of the type described wherein side guide units are disposed on opposite sides of overhead magnetic conveyors with means for adjusting the position thereof laterally and longitudinally of the piler and also mechanism for locking each of the individual side guide units in adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet piling machine for corrugated sheets, or the like, wherein overhead rail-like magnetic conveyors are supported on longitudinally spaced end frames so as to be adjustable vertically for accommodating sheets of different thickness and an end stop bumper assembly is mounted on a carriage which is supported onlongitudinally extending track formations associated with the conveyor units and having a chain drive for connecting the. carriage with a power source which is arranged so as to enable the position of Patented June 14, 1966 ice - the end stop bumper assembly'to be readily adjusted for out disconnecting or disabling the chain drive.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the piling machine which is shown by way'of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE '1 is a plan view of a sheet piler machine embodying therein the principal featurw of the invention, with portions broken away and other portions omitted;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the sheet piler with portions broken away and other portions omitted;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation at the entrance end of the piler machine, to a larger scale;

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross section taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross section taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2, to a larger scale;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross section taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on the lines 77 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 7 to a larger scale;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken on the lines 9-9 of FIG- URE 1 to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal section taken on the lines 10-10 of FIGURE 6, to a larger scale;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical section taken onthe lines 11-11 of FIGURE 6, to a larger scale;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the discharge end of the machine, to a larger scale;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the lines 13-13 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 14 is a partial vertical section taken on.the lines 14-14 of FIGURE 12, with portions omitted;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the lines 15-15 of FIGURE 14, to a larger scale; and

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the lines 16-16 of FIGURE 12 to a larger scale.

The apparatus 10 which is illustrated in.the drawings (FIGURES 1 and 2) and which incorporates therein the principal features of the invention, is designed to receive individual metal sheetsS from a processing line or the like and to deposit the sheets one by one on a stack or pile 11 on a bed structure 12 for removal in the lateral direction from the apparatus. The machine 10 may have associated with it a reject apparatus, indicated at 13, at the entrance end of the machine 10 for piling defective sheets before they reach the present machine.

The apparatus comprises an upright supporting frame structure consistingv of longitudinally spaced end frames 14 and 15 (FIGURES l and 2) supporting at opposite ends an overhead magnetic conveyor structure 16, which, in the form shown, comprises two identical conveyor rail units 17 and 18. The conveyor rail units 17 and 18 are of the straight bottom type which are disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 356,566, filed April 1, 1964. The rail units 17 and 18 are transversely spaced and supported, at the receiving end of the machine 10, on a cross beam 20 extending between upstanding, laterally spaced brackets 21 and 22 on the end frame structure 14. The conveyor rail units 17 and 18 are supported at the other end of the machine on a cross beam 23 extending between upstanding, laterally spaced brackets 24 and 25 (FIGURE 5) on the end frame structure 15. Each of the rail units 17 and 18 comprises an elongate frame 26 which houses a series of longitudinally spaced electromagnets (not shown) and a traveling belt 27 which is supported at opposite ends on pulleys 28 and 30. Pulleys 28 at the entrance end of the machine are idler pulleys which are carried on a cross shaft 31 while the pulleys at the opposite or exit end of the machine are mounted on a driven shaft 32 and drive the belts 27. The rail units 17 and 18 have a limited vertical adjustment and the drive shaft 32 has a connection with a power drive which permits vertical adjustment of the units '17 and 18 without interruption of the drive connection. Each end of each of the cross beams 20 and 23 is provided, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, with a depending threaded pin 33 and an adjusting nut 34. The pin 33 extends through an aperture in the base of the supporting bracket for the cross beam so that the nut 34 serves as a support and the nut 34 is adjusted on the pin 33 to raise and lower the end of the cross beam as required for proper vertical adjustment. A conveyor drive shaft 32 has a universal connection 35 (FIGURES 1, 5 and 12) with the output shaft 36 on a speed reducer 37 mounted on one side of the end frame structure 15. The speed reducer 37 is driven from a motor 38 mounted below the same and connected in driving relation therewith by the belt and pulley drive 40. The cross beam 20 at the entrance end of the machine 10 is additionally supported in the center of a cross frame member 41 (FIGURE 4) forming a part of the end frame structure 14 by means of a hanger bracket 42 which is secured on the lower end of a vertically adjustable depending hanger bolt 43.

The machine 10 is provided with a side guide structure 45 for guiding the side edges of the sheets as they are dropped from the conveyor rail units 17 and 18. The side guide structure 45 is mounted on longitudinally extending, laterally spaced supporting beams 46 and 47 which are substantially identical except for being rights and lefts and which are mounted at their opposite ends on the end frame structures 14 and 15 for lateral adjustment, the mounting and adjusting arrangement for each of the beams 46 and '47 being identical. As shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, the side guide supporting beam 46 may be conveniently formed by connecting two channels in facing relation so as to form an elongate housing of rectangular cross section which provides a track for longitudinally adjustable guide unit assembles 50. The beam 46 (FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9) is provided at its opposite ends with downwardly facing track formations 51 and 52 which extend transversely of the machine and which are of generally U-shaped cross section. Co-operating rails 53 and 54 are mounted on top plates 55 and 56 of the end frame structures 14 and 15, respectively. The carriage forming or track forming channels 51 and 52 depend from the bottom face of the beam 46 near the ends thereof and co-operate with the rails 53 and 54 to support the beam. At the infeed end of the machine an adjusting screw or shaft 57 is rotatably mounted in an elongate housing 58 which extends transversely of the end frame 14 and is mounted on the top plate 55 adjacent to and parallel with the rail 53. The shaft 57 is journaled at opposite ends of the housing 58 and has a nut 60 carried in threaded engagement thereon which is bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom face of the beam 46 and has a neck forming portion 61 extending through a slot 62 in the top of the housing 58 so that rotation of the shaft 57 moves the nut 60 axially thereof and adjusts the beam 46 in a direction laterally of the machine. The shaft 57 extends at the outer end of the housing 58 and carries a pair of sprockets 63 (FIGURE 4) which'are connected by drive chain 64 with a pair of sprockets 65 on the drive shaft of a combination speed reducer and motor drive apparatus 66 adjustably mounted on the top of an upstanding bracket 67 on the end frame structure 14. A motion equalizing shaft 68 is journaled in suitable end bearing supports 70 and 70 in the ends of the beam 46 and supported intermediate thereof by suitable bearing assemblies 71. The shaft 68 carries at its opposite ends pinions 72 and 72' which engage with rack formations 73 and 73' supported on the top edge of bracket forming beam sections 74 and 74' extending above the frame plates 55 and 56 in parallel relation with the track forming rail members 53 and 54. The supporting beam 47 on the opposite side of the machine is constructed and mounted at its opposite ends in the same manner as the beam 46 being driven at the infeed end of the'machine by the motor and gear reduction assembly 66' (FIGURE 1).

Each of the side guide assemblies 50 (FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 6 to 11 and 13) comprises a pair of side guide devices and 80 which are connected for simultaneous movement longitudinally of the machine by a pair of cross bar or beam members 81 and 81. The side guide devices 80 and 80' are of identical construction except for being rights and lefts and only one of these devices will be described in detail. The side guide device 80 (FIGURES 3, 6 and 7) comprises a carriage forming top structure 82, a sheet guiding and supporting finger structure 83 and connecting linkage structure 84 which depends from the carriage structure 82 and supports in suspended relation thereon the finger structure 83. The side edge guide and sheet supporting finger structure 83 comprises a vertically disposed sheet edge guiding plate 85 (FIGURES 6,

10 and 13) mounted on the inner end of an upwardly facing channel-shaped bracket 86 by pivot pin 87 extending through a block on the end of the bracket 86 and a pair of vertically spaced apertured mounting ears on the outside face of the plate 85. The plate 85 has a limited swinging movement on the vertically disposed pivot 87. The plate 85 has a beveled flange 88 on its top and side edges and is provided with a bottom slot 89 for accommodating a slidably mounted sheet supporting finger 90. The finger 90 constitutes the forward end of an elongate plate or bar member 91 and may have on its upper face a suitable sheet engaging pad 92 or the like. The bar member 91 is carried in the bottom of an elongate carriage 93. The carriage 93 is slidably mounted in a housing 94 which includes track forming, oppositely facing, spaced, parallel channels 95 and 96 which depend on opposite sides of an elongate supporting frame member or bracket 97 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom face of the supporting bracket 86. The carriage 93 is provided with pairs of wheel forming, flanged rollers 98, 98' and 100, 100' (FIGURES 6, l0 and 11) which are mounted on the shaft 101 at the forward end of the housing 94 and on stub shafts 102 and 102 at the other end thereof and which ride in the tracks formed by the channels 95 and 96. The carriage 93 is reciprocated by an air cylinder 103 which is mounted in the housing 94. The cylinder 103 is pivotally mounted on the pin 104 fixed in the housing 94 and with its piston 105 connected to a bearing forming member 106 on the cross shaft 101 at the forward end of the housing 94. Operation of the air cylinder 103 will, of course, reciprocate the carriage 93 and retract or extend the finger 90 into and out of sheet supporting position relative to the edge guiding plate 85.

The bracket 86 is suspended on the lower ends of two pairs of links 107 and 108 (FIGURES 3 and 6) which constitute the supporting linkage 84. The links 107 are pivoted at 110 at their lower ends and at the outermost end of the bracket 86. The links 108 are connected at their lower ends to the bracket 86 by the pivot pins 111. The links 107 and 108 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the carriage forming housing 82. The supporting carriage or housing 82 comprises a pair of laterally spaced plates 112 and 113 disposed in parallel vertical planes and spaced apart a suflicient distance to ac commodate between them the support beam 46. Two pairs of flanged wheels or rollers 114 and 115 are mounted on cross shafts 116 and 117, extending between the plates 112 and 113, and spaced to ride on the top face of the beam 46, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6. A pair of flanged wheels or guide rollers 118 are mounted on stub shafts 120 near the bottom of the plates 112 and 113 and spaced so as to ride on the lower face of the beam 46; The plates 112 and 113 have downwardly opening housings 121 and 122 (FIGURES 3, 6 and 13) mounted on their outer faces for receiving the upper ends of the pairs of links 107 and 108, the latter being mounted in the housings on the supporting pins 123 and 124. The links 107 and 108 are mounted so that they are inclined downwardly and in the direction of forward movement of the sheets with the rearward link of each pair thereof having its upper end resting against the rear walls 125 and 126 of the housings 121 and 122. The housings 121 and 122 have inclined wall sections. 127 and 128 at the forward side thereof which act as stop members to limit the forward movement of the linkage 84. This arrangement permit considerable movement of the linkage 84 and avoids damage in the event the linkage or the finger assembly 83 is stuck by a sheet which is misaligned as the latter advances from the entrance end of the machine.

Each of the side guide supporting devices 80 atone side of the machine is provided with a locking mechanism (FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 13) for securing each pair of the devices in position after they are adjusted on the supporting beams 46 and 47. The cross shaft 117 (FIGURE 7) carries a pinion 130 which engages with a racket 131 mounted on the top face of the beam 46. At its outer end the shaft 117 carries a sprocket 132 which is connected by the chain 133 with a sprocket 134 on a stub shaft 135. The stub shaft 135 is journaled in a rectangular shaped supporting box or bracket 136 on the outer face of the plate 112 andcarries a hand wheel 137 on its outer end which enables the operator to move the device 80 along the beam 46. The inner end of the shaft 135 (FIGURE 8) is mounted in a fixed cylindrical bearing sleeve 138 which is threaded 'at 140 on the exterior surface of the outer end thereof and receives thereon a threaded locking nut forming member 141, the latter being provided with a handle forming member 142 which may be turned to draw the nut 141 against the hub of the adjacent sprocket 134 so as to frictionally lock the sprocket 134 against rotational movement. Unlocking is accomplished by reverse rotation of the handle 142 to back off the nut 141 and release the sprocket 134 for rotating by turning the hand wheel 137.

The devices 80 and 80' are connected in pair relation by the cross bars or beams 81 and 81' which are arranged in side-by-side sliding relation transversely of the machine with their ends seated in a guideway forming slot 143 and 143' in the housing for each of the devices 80 and 80. The respective cross bars 81 and 81' are each secured at the one end thereof to its associated device 80 and 80' and lateral movement of the beams 46 and 47 toward and from each other will result in relative sliding movement of the cross bars 81 and 81' so that the devices 80 and 80' of each pair thereof are maintained in transverse alignment and moved longitudinally of the machine simultaneously for adjustment to accommodate the length of sheet being handled in the machine. The machine is provided with a backstop assembly 144 (FIGURE 4) and an end stop assembly 145 (FIGURES 5 and 14). These backstop and end stop mechanisms may be of the type shown, for example, in my Patent No. 3,020,810, dated February 15, 1962. The backstop mechanism which is indicated at 144 is mounted at the top of a vertically disposed backstop plate 146 on the vertical face of the end frame 14 atthe entrance end of the piler. The backstop mechanism 144 is below the entrance plane similar channels 162' and 163'.

The end stop assembly (FIGURES 5 and 14 is supported for longitudinal adjustment on the conveyor units 17 and 18 so as to adapt the machine for the handling of sheets of varying length. The end stop assembly 145 comprises an end stop mechanism 150 which is suspended beneath the rail units 17 and 18 by two pairs ofparallel links 151 and 151 depending on opposite sides of 'a traveling carriage 152 which spans the conveyor rail units 17 and 18 and is supported thereon for adjustment longitudinal of the machine. The carriage 152 is in the form of a rectangular frame with a top cross beam 153 and side assemblies 154 and 154' which side assemblies are identical except for being rights and lefts and only one thereof will be described. The assembly 154 (FIGURE 15) comprises spaced, parallel, vertically disposed inner and outer plate members 155 and 156 connected by a cross plate 157 at the top edges which is bolted or otherwise fastened to the end of the cross beam 153. The two vertical plates 155 and 156 form a housing which is partially closed at the ends of the 'shorter'outer plate 156 (FIGURE 14) and which is open at the bottom to accommodate movement of the pair of links 150, the latter having their upper ends supported between the plates 155 and 156 on the pivots 158 and 158 which extend between the two plates 155 and 156. The bars forming links 151 are normally positioned at an incline of approximately 15 from the vertical by inclined limit stop plates 159 and movement in the op posite direction is limited by an inclined end plate 159' so that the end stop mechanism 150 has a limited range of movement in an upward and forward direction rela tive to the plane of travel of the sheets which are being handled. The inner plate 155 carries a pair of flanged.

wheels 160 and 160' which are mounted in longitudinal alignment onlongitudinally spaced stub shafts 161 and 161'. The wheels 160 and 160 ride on a track formed by the lower flange of a longitudinally extending channel 162 which is mounted in outwardly opening relation in a larger channel member 163, also opening outwardly and secured in any desired manner on the outer side wall 164 of the housing for the rail unit 17. The channel 163 provides a housing for an endless chain 165 which is supported on parallel, vertically spaced top and bottom rails 166 and 167 which are in turn mounted on the upper and lower flanges, respectively, of the channels 162 and 163. A bracket 168 attached to the inside wall of the lower margin of the plate 155 forms a connection between the chain 165 and the carriage assembly 154. The frame assembly 154 (FIGURE 5) at the other side of the machine is constructed in a similar manner and supported on the side face of the conveyor unit 18 by The chains 165 and 165 'are supported in the channels 163 and 163 in an identical manner and are connected in driven relation with a cross drive shaft 170 (FIGURES l2 and 14) at the leading end of the machine. The chain 165 is mounted at the one end of the channel 163 on a sprocket 171 (FIGURE 14) which is supported on the stub shaft 172 in fixed position in the channel. At the other end of the channel 163 the chain 165 is mounted on an idler sprocket 173 (FIGURES 3 and 14) on a stub shaft 174 mounted in a slidably supported bracket 175 which is on one end of a slidably mounted pin 176 having a nut 177 on its free end which extends beyond the end of the channel 163 and carrying a compression spring 178 extending between the nut 177 and the end member 180 of the channel 163 so as to apply tension to the chain 165. The stub shaft 172 extends beyond the outer face of a channe1163 and carries a sprocket 181 which is connected by the chain 182 with a sprocket 183 on the trans- '2 verse drive shaft 170. The upper run of the chain 182 is engaged by a slack take-up sprocket 184 (FIGURES 12 and 16) rotatably supported on one end of a bracket arm 185. The bracket arm 185 is connected by pivot 186 at its other end to a fixed bracket 187 extending from a vertical wall of the post-like end frame member 188 which supports the horizontal frame plate 56. The bracket arm 185 carries a center pin 190 which engages in a forwardly opening slot 191 in the free end of a bracket 192 extending from the end of the channel 163. The lower run of the chain 182 is adapted to engage, when it is in lowered position, with a take-up sprocket 193 rotatably mounted in a bracket 194 extending from the rear side wall of the frame post 188. A corresponding drive connection with shaft 170 is provided at the end of the channel 163 at the other side of the machine. The drive shaft 170 is journaled in the post forming portions 188 and 188' extending upwardly on the top portion of the end frame structure 15. A sprocket 194 is carried on one end of the shaft 170 and connected by a drive chain 195 with a sprocket 196 on the power shaft 197 of a drive motor and gear reduction unit 198 supported on the bracket 200 on the end frame 15. This arrangement enables the units 17 and 18 to be raised and lowered, within predetermined limits, without interrupting or disconnecting the drive for the chains 165 and 165'.

A pass-through roller 201 (FIGURE 5) is mounted at the forward or exit end of the machine which is mounted on bearing supporting brackets 202 and 2112' and which supports the sheet when, for any reason, it is desired to forward a sheet to other equipment and not have it deposited on the pile 11. This, of course, requires the use of an end stop assembly 145 which is capable of being moved out of the path of travel of the sheet.

In using the machine which is illustrated, the conveyor units 117 and 18 are adjusted vertically to accommodate the thickness of the sheet which is being handled, there being, of course, considerable variation in the thickness of material and depth of corrugation in corrugated sheet material. The end stop assembly 145 is adjusted longitudinally of the piler to accommodate the length of sheet it is desired to pile, the drive connection between the chains which move the carriage 152 for the end stop assembly 145 automatically adjusts itself with the raising and lowering of the conveyor rails so that these adjustments may be made quickly and without any difficulty. The side guide mechanisms 150 are adjusted both longitudinally of the machine and laterally thereof. Longitudinal adjustment is accomplished by rotation of the hand wheels 137 and each pair of side guide assemblies 83 is adjusted so that the side edges of the sheet are guided by the vertical plates 85 regardless of the center line on which the sheets are delivered at the entrance end of the machine. The lateral adjustment of the assemblies 83 is accomplished by operating the drive assemblies 66 and 66' so as to position the supporting beams 46 and 47 at the desired location relative to the longitudinal center line of the machine. The sheet supporting lifts 90 of the assemblies 83 are operated as required through operation of the air motors 103. If stagger piling is desired, the machine is equipped with end stop and backstop apparatus 144 and 145 which includes stagger piling devices for accomplishing this operation. Also, the end stop mechanism 145 is arranged so that the bumper pad may be moved out of the path of a sheet when it is desired to advance the sheet through the machine, as for example, when a sheet reaches the machine which is too long for piling thereby.

I claim:

1. A piler machine for metal sheets comprising a railtype overhead electromagnetic conveyor mounted at opposite ends on spaced upright end frames and having traveling belts for advancing on the bottom face thereof successive sheets which are delivered to an entrance end of the conveyor and advanced to a piling area between said end frames, an end stop device for arresting the forward travel of the sheets when they are released by the conveyor, and sheet side guide mechanism, said side guide mechanism comprising parallel support beams extending longitudinally of the conveyor and mounted for lateral adjustment, a plurality of side guide assemblies mounted on said support beams for adjustment longitudinally of the conveyor, each of said side guide assemblies comprising a pair of carriages each mounted on one of said support beams and secured to a transversely extending bar member, said bar members being slidably connected to each other so that each pair of carriages is movable as a single unit longitudinally of the machine, each of said carriages having pairs of depending link bars pivoted thereto at their upper ends for swinging movement in a longitudinal path, a supporting frame pivoted to the lower ends of said link bars, stop means limiting the swinging movement of the link bars, a vertically disposed side guide plate mounted on the inner end of each supporting frame and a carriage mounted on said supporting frame for sliding movement in a direction extending transversely of the conveyor and having an inner end portion adapted to move inwardly beneath said vertical guide plate so as to form a finger-like support for the sheets when they are freed from the conveyor and drop towards the pile.

2. A piler machine for metal sheets comprising a railtype overhead electromagnetic conveyor mounted at opposite ends on spaced upright end frames and having traveling belts and electromagnets for carrying on the bottom face successive sheets which are delivered to an entrance end thereof for advance to a piling area between said end frames, an end stop device adjustably mounted on the conveyor for arresting the forward travel of the sheets when they are released by the conveyor, and sheet side guide mechanism, said side guide mechanism comprising parallel support beams extending longitudinally of the conveyor and mounted at opposite endson said end frames, means for adjusting said support beams laterally of the conveyor, a plurality of side guide assemblies mounted on said support beams for adjustment longitudinally of said conveyor, each of said side guide assemblies comprising a pair of carriages mounted on said support beams and each secured at one end of a transversely extending bar member, the bar member of each carriage being slidably connected to the bar member of the other carriage of each pair thereof so that the carriages of each pair thereof are movable longitudinally of the machine as a single unit, each of said carriages having a pair of depending link bars pivotally connected thereto at their upper ends for swinging movement in a longitudinal plane, an elongate frame pivoted to the lower ends of said link bars, means for limiting the swinging movement of the link bars, a vertically disposed side guide plate mounted on a. vertical pivot at the inner end of said elongate frame and a sheet supporting finger mounted on said elongate frame for sliding movement in a direction extending transversely of the conveyor and beneath said side guide plate with the inner end thereof adapted to form a temporary support for the sheets when they are freed from the conveyor and drops towards the pile.

3. A piler as recited in claim 2, and an hydraulic motor mounted on said elongate. frame with its piston connected to said sheet supporting finger for reciprocating said finger between extended and retracted positions.

4. A sheet piler machine comprising a rail-type overhead electromagnetic conveyor mounted on spaced upright end frames and having power driven belts and electromagnetsfor holding sheets on the bottom face of the conveyor so as to deliver the sheets to a piling area bethe forward travel of the sheets when they are released by de-activating the conveyor magnets and sheet side guide mechanism which comprises parallel support beams extending longitudinally of the conveyor and mounted on said end frames, a plurality of side guide assemblies mounted on said support beams for adjustment longitudinally of the conveyor, each said side guide assembly comprising a pair of carriages mounted in oppositely disposed relation on said beams and each carriage secured to a transversely extending bar member, the bar members being connected to each other so that each pair of carriages may be moved longitudinally of the machine as a unit, each of said carriages having depending link bars pivoted thereto at the upper ends thereof for movement in a longitudinal and vertical plane, a side guide plate supporting frame pivoted to the lower ends of said link bars, stop means limiting the swinging movement of the link bars, and a vertically disposed guide plate pivotally mounted on the inner end of said plate supporting frame.

Y 5. A sheet piling machine comprising a rail-type over head electromagnetic conveyor mounted on spaced upright end frames and having power driven belts and electromagnets for holding sheets on the bottom face of the conveyor so as to deliver the sheets to a piling area between said end -frames, an end stop device for arresting the forward travel of the sheets when they are released by de-activating the conveyor magnets and sheet side guide mechanism which side guide mechanism comprises parallel support beams extending longitudinally of the conveyor and mounted for adjustment laterally of the conveyor, a plurality of side guide assemblies mounted on said support beams for adjustment longitudinally of the conveyor, each said side. guide assembly including a pair of carriages mounted in oppositely disposed relation on said beams and each carriage secured to atransversely extending bar member, said bar members of each pair thereof being connected to each other so that each pair of carriages are movable longitudinally of the machine as a unit, each of said carriages having depending link bars pivoted thereto at the upper ends thereof for movement in. a longitudinal path, a supporting frame pivoted to the lower ends of said link bars, and a vertically disposed side guide plate mounted on said supporting frame.

6. A sheet piling machine as recited in claim 5, and means on said side guide assemblies for manually moving said carriages longitudinally of said support beams.

7. A sheet piling machine as recited in claim 5, and a rack member extending longitudinally of one of said' support beams, a pinion journaled in one of said carriages and engaging said rack member, and manually operable drive means on said one carriage for rotating said pinion.

8. A sheet piling machine as recited in claim 7, and a locking device on said one carriage associated with said manually operable drive means for locking said one carriage against movement on the associated support beam.

9. A machine for piling metal sheets comprising a railtype overhead electromagnetic conveyor mounted on spaced upright end frames and having power driven belts and electromagnets positioned for holding on the bottom face of the belts successive sheets which are delivered to an entrance end thereof, an end stop device for arresting the forward travel of the sheets when they are released by deactivating the electromagnets and side guide mechanism for guiding the side edges of the sheets as they drop onto a pile between said end frames which side guide mechanism comprises parallel support beams extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the conveyor, a plurality of side guide assemblies mounted on said sup port beams for adjustment longitudinally thereof, each of said side guide assemblies comprising a pair of carriages mounted in oppositely disposed relation on said support beams and secured to a frame forming transversely extending member so that the carriages of each pair thereof are movable longitudnally of the machine as a single unit, each of said carriages having depending members for supporting a side guide frame at their lower ends, a vertically disposed side guide plate mounted on a vertically extending pivot on the inner end of said supporting frame and a retractable and extensible finger-like support for the sheets mounted on said supporting frame for catching the sheets when they are freed from the conveyor and drop towards the pile.

10. A machine as recited in claim 9, and said support beams having carriage forming members at their opposite ends and track forming'members on said upright end frames extending transversely of the machine for slidingly receiving said carriage forming members.

11. A machine as recited in claim 10, and a transversely extending drive shaft journaled insaid end frame at each side of the machine, a traveling nut on said drive shaft having a connection with the end of a support beam and power means for rotating said drive shaft to adjust the lateral position of the support beam.

12. A machine as recited in claim 10, and said support beams each having a longitudinally extending motion equalizing shaft journaled thereon, pinions carried on the ends of said motion equalizing shaft and engaging transversely extending rack members mounted on said upright end frames.

13. A machine as recited in claim 12, and transversely extending drive shafts journaled on said end frame at one end of said support beams, a traveling nut on each of said drive shafts and connected to a support beam,

and drive means for said transversely extending drive shafts.

14. A machine for piling metal sheets comprising an overhead electromagnetic conveyor mounted at opposite ends on spaced upright end frames, said conveyor having an elongate rail-like frame, electromagnets, and power driven belts supported on end pulleys for receiving on the bottom face thereof successive metal sheets which are delivered to an entrance end of the conveyor and held on the belts by the electromagnets for advance :to a piling area between said end frames, means for adjusting the vertical position of said overhead conveyor frame, an end stop apparatus mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said overhead conveyor frame, which end stop apparatus comprises track forming members extending longitudinally on said overhead conveyor frame, a carriage movably mounted on said track forming members, a drive chain mounted on sprockets at opposite ends of said track forming members and connected to said carriage, one of said sprockets being mounted on a cross shaft, a driven cross shaft mounted in fixed position on the one upright end frame, a sprocket on said driven cross shaft, a sprocket on said first mentioned cross shaft, 21 chain connecting said last mentioned sprockets, and means for automatically taking up the slack in said last mentioned chain as the overhead conveyor frame is raised or lowered in adjusting the vertical position thereof.

15. A machine for piling metal sheets comprising an overhead rail-like conveyor mounted at opposite ends on spaced upright end frames and having an elongate frame, electromagnets, and power driven belts supported on end pulleys on said elongate frame for receiving on the bottom face thereof successive metal sheets which are held thereon by the electromagnets for advance to a piling area between said end frames, means at opposite ends of said conveyor for adjusting the vertical position of said conveyor frame, and an end stop apparatus mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said conveyor frame, which end stop apparatus includes a carriage movably mounted on track forming members extending longitudinally on said conveyor frame, a carriage positioning chain mounted on sprockets at opposite ends of said track forming members and connected to said carriage, one of said sprockets being mounted on a cross shaft, a

driven cross shaft mounted in fixed position on the one upright end frame, a drive connection between said cross shafts which includes a drive chain extending between said cross shafts which chain has a substantial amount of slack in one position of the conveyor frame, and means for automatically taking up the slack in said last mentioned chain as the conveyor frame is raised in adjusting the vertical position thereof.

16. A piling machine as recited in claim 15, and said means for automatically taking up the slack in said drive chain being actuated by vertical movement of said conveyor frame.

17. A piling machine as recited in claim 15, and said means for automatically taking up the slack in said drive chain including a bracket member extending from the end of said conveyor frame, an arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends on said bracket member, said arm having its outermost end pivotally connected to the associated end frame and an idler sprocket journaled on its opposite end and engaging said drive chain between said cross shafts.

18. A piler machine for metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor mounted at opposite ends on spaced upright end frames and having an elongate rail-like frame, electromagnets therein and traveling belts supported on end pulleys for receiving on the bottom face thereof successive sheets which are held thereon by the electromagnets and advanced to a piling area between said end frames where they are released for piling, means for adjusting the vertical position of said conveyor frame, an end stop apparatus mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said overhead conveyor frame, which end stop apparatus comprises a carriage and supporting track forming members extending longitudinally on said conveyor frame, a position adjusting chain mounted on sprockets on cross shafts journaled in said conveyor frame at opposite ends of said track forming members, a driven cross shaft mounted in fixed position in the one upright of slack in the lowered position of the conveyor frame, and means for taking up the slack in said drive chain which is responsive to movement of the overhead conveyor frame as said conveyor frame is raised or lowered in adjusting the vertical position thereof.

19. A metal sheet piling machine comprising an overhead conveyor mounted at opposite'ends on spaced upright end frames, said overhead conveyor having an elongate rail-like frame, power driven belts supported on end pulleys in said rail-like frame and cooperating electromagnets for holding sheets on the bottom face thereof and for delivering the sheets to a piling area between said end frames, means for adjusting the vertical position of said overhead conveyor frame, an end stop apparatus mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said overhead conveyor frame, which end stop apparatus comprises a carriage track forming members extending longitudinally on said overhead conveyor frame for supporting said carriage, means for adjusting the position of the carriage longitudinally of said conveyor frame, support members depending from said carriage, an end stop support frame mounted on the lower ends of said depending support members, an end stop device mounted on said end stop support frame which is normally positioned in the path of thesheets so as to stop the sheets for deposit by gravity in the piling area and including means which is adapted to be lowered to an inoperative out-of-the-way position below the normal path of the sheets so as to permit sheets to advance past the piling area and pass out of the machine and a sheet supporting roller positioned on the adjacent end frame for supporting sheets which are advanced past the piling area and the end stop device so that they move across said end frame and out of the machine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,761,682 9/1956 Buccicone 271-86 3,126,657 3/1964 Hajos 27171 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Examiner. 

1. A PILER MACHINE FOR METAL SHEETS COMPRISING A RAILTYPE OVER HEAD ELECTROMAGNETIC CONVEYOR MOUNTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS ON SPACED UPRIGHT END FRAMES AND HAVING TRAVELING BELTS FOR ADVANCING ON THE BOTTOM FACE THEREOF SUCCESSIVE SHEEETS WHICH ARE DELIVERED TO AN ENTRANCE END OF THE CONVEYOR AND ADVANCED TO A PILING AREA BETWEEN SAID END FRAMES, AN END STOP DEVICE FOR ARRESTING THE FORWARD TRAVEL OF THE SHEETS WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED BY THE CONVEYOR, AND SHEET SIDE GUIDE MECHANISM, SAID SIDE GUIDE MECHANISM COMPRISING PARALLEL SUPPORT BEAMS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE CONVEYOR AND MOUNTED FOR LATERAL ADJUSTMENT, A PLURALITY OF SIDE GUIDE ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT BEAMS FOR ADJUSTMENT LONGITUDINALLY CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID SIDE GUIDE ASSEMBLIES COMPRISING A PAIR OF CARRIAGES EACH MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID SUPPORT BEAMS AND SECURED TO A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BAR MEMBER, SAID BAR MEMBERS BEING SLIDABLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER SO THAT EACH PAIR OF CARRIAGES IS MOVABLE AS A SINGLE 